Support has poured in for Dallas restaurant owner Al Biernat, who died Nov. 13, 2024 after a fast-moving battle with ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. A compassionate restaurateur for more than 50 years, Biernat will be remembered as one of Dallas’ most connected businessmen.

Biernat’s memorial is set for Dec. 2, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Dallas on 1707 San Jacinto St. All are invited to celebrate his life.

Valet parking is available — a flourish that Biernat would surely appreciate.

Near the end of Biernat’s life, after ALS symptoms robbed him of the ability to speak or eat, he told The Dallas Morning News he worried about leaving behind his wife of 45 years, Jeannie Biernat, and his three children. But, he said he also felt peace.

In a series of emails to The Dallas Morning News near the end of his life, Al Biernat said his faith led him through decades of a tumultuous restaurant business.

“I had a strong belief and confidence that God was with me along the way,” Biernat said.

He repeated that mantra often.

“I have learned to trust God,” he said, ”and keep my faith in all circumstances.”

Since Biernat’s death, friends and customers have honored his legacy in a flood of Facebook posts, emails to The Dallas Morning News and messages to his family.

Former Dallas Morning News dining review contributor Michele Axley said Biernat “was a thoughtful, prayerful, blessed man loved by many.”

Forrest Peterson, a server at Al Biernat’s for 25 years, said in early 2024 that Biernat was a servant leader who taught him grit and kindness.

“The way he treats people is going to be a legacy,” Peterson said.

One of the most succinct remembrances of Biernat comes from Brad Fuller, general manager of Al Biernat’s steakhouse and Biernat’s nephew. Uncle Al, as Fuller called him, had a big heart.

“Al has a special way of making everyone think they are the most important person in the room,” Fuller said.

Biernat’s family is gathering messages, stories and photos from friends and customers. Email FriendofAl@albiernats.com or write to 4217 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, TX, 75219, c/o Al Biernat’s Personal.

Biernat’s celebration of life is Dec. 2, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Dallas, 1707 San Jacinto St., Dallas. Contact frontdesk@albiernats.com with questions.

For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on X at @sblaskovich.

MIAMI – More than a year after announcing charges, Broward prosecutors have dropped the criminal case against former Miami City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla and attorney William Riley.

Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor, who took over the case’s prosecution, made the announcement Wednesday.

Diaz de la Portilla, 60, who served on the Miami city commission representing District 1 from 2020 until he was suspended from office shortly after his arrest on corruption charges in September 2023, was accused of secretly taking in tens of thousands of dollars from owners of a private school.

The commissioner and Riley, 49, were accused of laundering approximately $245,000 in concealed political contributions to support the construction of Centner Academy’s athletic complex on public land in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood.

In a statement, Pryor said that after “a substantial follow-up investigation and extensive depositions of witnesses, we have concluded that there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction.”

“When the arrests were made, I promised that our prosecutors would pursue justice in this matter and that is what we have done,” he said.

In a closeout memo, prosecutors wrote, “The evidence does not demonstrate corrupt intent, unlawful benefits, or falsification of records. Witness testimony is unreliable and lawful actions have been misconstrued as criminal.”

“Substantial follow-up investigations and depositions have occurred that revealed that the foundation of this entire investigation was misguided and buttressed by unverified information,” prosecutors wrote, calling the case “purely circumstantial.”

Diaz de la Portilla, who consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing, tried to regain his seat in the 2023 election, but lost to challenger Miguel Gabela under the cloud of criminal charges.

Those charges are now a thing of the past.

This is a developing story. Stay with Local 10 News and Local10.com for updates.

Read the closeout memo:

Former Inter Miami and Atlanta United striker, Josef Martínez, is set to his free agency this winter after CF Montréal denied exercising his club option, per a report from GiveMeSport‘s Tom Bogert.

The 31-year-old was vital in Montréal’s run to an Eastern Conference Wild Card spot after an eighth place finish in the East in the regular season. Martínez logged a total of 14 goals and three assists in 26 appearances across all competitions for the Canadian club, scoring twice in the narrow defeat against his former club Atlanta in the Wild Card match.

Bogert reveals that both Martínez and Montréal did have negotiations over a new contract to extend his stay at Stade Saputo but that an agreement wasn’t reached, prompting the club to let him walk this offseason. Martínez will officially be a free agent on Thursday, Dec. 12.

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After recovering from an ACL tear in the 2020 season while also battling knee problems in 2021 and 2022, Martínez has proven in both 2023 with Miami and 2024 with Montréal that he still has a bit left in the tank. The Venezuelan forward might not be the player he used to when he claimed the MLS MVP and Golden Boot in 2018, but he could be a quality back-up option for any club with his winning mentality.

Martínez has already cemented himself as an MLS legend with a staggering 116 goals—the sixth-most in MLS history—and 18 assists in 184 regular season appearances. The former Torino player has also logged seven goals and one assist in 11 MLS Cup playoff appearances, scoring in the 2018 MLS Cup in Atlanta’s 2–0 triumph over Portland Timbers.

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